Apple lovers get ready: Our favorite fall fruit is now coming into season sooner than expected. From the apple-growing regions of New York, Michigan, and Washington, we can expect to get a jump-start on everything apple, from pick-your-own apple orchards to frosty mugs of apple cider. Though a simple caramel-dipped apple is our favorite, there are plenty of delicious ways to take advantage of autumn’s early bounty. Bake apples into sweet pies and crumbles, or roast them for a savory companion to meat.

To celebrate pumpkin season, which unofficially lasts from October 1 through Thanksgiving, Cooking Channel staff decided to forgo a carving contest — too messy for the office — in favor of a fun and tasty (and much cleaner) pumpkin dessert bake-off.

The sweet and toasty smell of pumpkin (and pumpkin pie spice) filled the room as we nibbled, evaluated, and voted for our top pick. Organizer extraordinaire Michelle welcomed and encouraged savory entries, but all participants preferred the sweet route. Here’s a sampling from the pumpkin dessert buffet.

We’re teaming up with other food and garden bloggers to host Summer Fest 2010, a season-long garden party. Each week we’ll feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market. To join in, check out awaytogarden.com.

﻿Let’s face it, apples go a long way in making up for the fact that there are no more strawberries, no more zucchini or corn and no more tank tops and flip flops. During this week of Fall Fest 2010, we’re talking about apples, the generous fruits that see us through the transition of summer-to-fall. An apple, dusted with cinnamon and simply baked, tucked under a buttery crust or a thick layer of spiced crumb topping, or cooked down into a sweet applesauce is quite possibly the most comforting food of all. Forget meat loaf and mac and cheese, nothing conveys warmth and coziness like a an apple pie, like Tyler Florence’s Ultimate Caramel Apple Pie, above. Here’s a roundup of some of the most tempting apple desserts out there — some of yours, some of ours — that are sure to escort you into the colder months, and will make you forget about your flip flips for another year.